Sudden death syndrome in broilers: dietary fat supplementation and its effect on tissue composition.

The effects of dietary fat sources on the general performance of broiler chickens and the incidence of sudden death syndrome (SDS) were investigated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, a wheat-soy diet supplemented with sunflower oil was found to improve significantly (P less than .05) performance characteristics and reduce the mortality attributed to SDS as compared with the same diet supplemented with tallow. The blood lipid parameters--total lipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol at 4 and 7 weeks of age--were not affected (P greater than .05) by the type of fat used in the diet. In Experiment 2, wheat-soy diets were supplemented with either tallow or sunflower oil at the same dietary levels and two stocking densities (.09 m2/bird or .08 m2/bird). The sunflower oil diet significantly (P less than .05) improved the general performance of the birds and reduced mortality from SDS. Bird density had no significant effect. Fatty acid composition of the heart and liver tissues from SDS birds showed differences when compared with culled birds (leg problems) from the same experimental period. In the heart tissue, increased palmitic (16:0) and oleic (18:1) acids were observed, while linoleic (18:2) and arachidonic (20:4) acids were lower. Liver tissue showed increased 18:1 and lower 18:2 and 20:4. Analysis for copper and zinc in heart tissue did not indicate significant (P greater than .05) treatment effects, but calcium concentration was significantly (P greater than .05) higher in SDS than culled birds. Analysis performed on the liver tissue showed significant (P lesser than .05) differences in copper and zinc between these two groups of birds.

Alcaligenes faecalis rhinotracheitis in Manitoba turkeys.

An outbreak of alcaligenes rhinotracheitis occurred on one premises housing five turkey flocks totaling 25,000 poults. Prominent findings were severe respiratory difficulty resulting from excess mucus in the nasopharynx, lachrimation, and tracheal collapse. Sinus and tracheal cultures consistently yielded Alcaligenes faecalis. An adenovirus was isolated and four flocks became positive for CELO virus by agar-gel-precipitin (AGP) tests. Mortality by flocks ranged from 4% to 48%. Treatment was unsuccessful and appeared to increase the mortality rate. The course of the disease was about 6 weeks, and recovered turkeys were marketed 1 week later than the usual date.

Abdominal fat deposition and sudden death syndrome in broilers: the effects of restricted intake, early life caloric (fat) restriction, and calorie: protein ratio.

The effects of feed restriction, early life fat restriction, and calorie:protein ratio on abdominal fat pad development and sudden death syndrome (SDS) in the broiler chicken were studied in two experiments. In Experiment 1, restricting feed intake to 90% of ad libitum intake was found to reduce significantly (P less than .01) both 49-day body weights and abdominal fat pad size while feed efficiency was significantly (P less than .01) improved compared to groups fed a wheat diet ad libitum. Corn-fed birds tended to outperform wheat fed groups. Reduced growth rate or supplementation of the diet with additional vitamins and minerals did not effect the incidence of SDS. In Experiment 2, fat restriction in the diet from 0 to 7 days initially reduced growth rate and increased feed:gain ratios. By 49 days, no effect of fat restriction on these parameters was observed. Dietary fat restriction tended to increase abdominal fat measured at 49 days of age. Lowering the calorie: protein ratio of the finishing diet significantly (P less than .05) improved feed:gain ratios measured from 29 to 49 days and tended to reduce fat pad size. Incidence of SDS was significantly (P less than .05) lower from 29 to 56 days in groups fed the 24% protein finisher diet as compared to birds fed a 19% finisher diet.

Mycotoxins and mycoflora in animal feedstuffs in western Canada.

Feed samples associated with 51 cases of suspected or potential mycotoxicoses of farm animals in western Canada were examined during a three year study. Ochratoxin A was detected in four cases, T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol in one, and sterigmatocystin in one. Samples examined for microflora associated with production of these mycotoxins contained Penicillium spp., Aspergillus ochraceus, Fusarium spp. and fungi of the Aspergillus glaucus group. Samples were analyzed for T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol only if Fusarium spp. were present. The first known incidence of suspected sterigmatocystin poisoning of poultry through feed ingestion has been encountered.

Granulomatous dermatitis in carnivores associated with dermatophyte infection.

Nine cases of granulomatous dermatitis in carnivores (eight dogs, one cat) are described. In three cases, in which there were no fungi in hair shafts, nor any other evidence of mycotic infection initially, fungal elements were demonstrated in the granulomas with the aid of special stains (PAS and Grocott). Granulomatous dermatitis in case of dermatophyte infections is thought to be an hypersensitivity reaction and has been reported to occur in a variety of mammals. It is suggested that pyogranulomatous skin reactions and trichogranulomas could be associated with dermatophytes and it is recommended to carry out further laboratory studies in order to detect fungi in such cases.

Experimental coryza in broiler chickens. I. Effects of vaccination with Haemophilus gallinarum bacterin and its components on weight gains and resistance to infection.

Effects of a Haemophilus gallinarum bacterin and its components were studied in young broiler chickens. When the bacterin was administered subcutaneously in the dorsal neck region at 2 weeks of age, no significant differences in weight gains of vaccinated and control birds were detected at eight weeks of age. In four groups vaccinated at 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks of age and challenged with virulent haemophilus organisms 3 weeks later, the incidence of clinical signs was 30% in the vaccinates and 60% in controls. The bacterin was equally protective at the four ages of administration. Caseous plugs were found at the vaccination sites in all birds which had received adjuvant either alone or in the complete bacterin. Signs of depression lasting about 24 hours were observed in the youngest birds injected with the bacterin, but overall weight gains were normal.